Wisconsin Charter Schools

Green Bay high school freshman Dora Grajeda didn't expect to wear goggles and make a wooden bench on the first day of school.

Nonetheless, she and 33 classmates at the John Dewey Academy of Learning, Green Bay's first charter school, worked in teams Thursday to build benches they will use during parts of the school day.

The exercise fits into the new school's concept of community building and project-based learning, officials said.

Green Bay's newest school is open to students in eighth to 11th grade, and much of their work will center on individual or group projects. It eventually also will open to seniors.

"I think it'll be good," said Grajeda, who otherwise would have attended East High School, which has slightly more than 1,300 students.

"I think it's nice to be in a group and work together as a community.

"I think with less people here, it will be more focused."

Charter schools are growing in popularity throughout the state.

Wisconsin has 236 charter schools this year, up from 206 in 2010-11. The West De Pere School District opened the Phantom Knight School of Opportunity a few years ago.

The Denmark, Oconto and Oconto Falls school districts also have charter schools. The Appleton School District had 16 in 2010-11.

They're called charter schools because school boards sign charters, or agreements, with boards that oversee the schools. Charter schools allow school districts to try alternative methods of teaching with a smaller number of students, said Tom Blankenheim, associate director of alternative programs for the Green Bay district. Students attend the schools voluntarily, and schools cannot charge tuition.

Charter schools have a greater deal of autonomy than regular schools. They are exempt from certain state or local rules, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.

However, they still must hire licensed teachers to administer state tests and follow federal regulations, among other requirements.

About 35,000 of 872,000 public school students in the state attended charter schools in 2010-11, according to the state education department.

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"I think you see growth in charter schools because local districts and parents are looking for alternatives and options," DPI spokesman Patrick Gasper said.

The Green Bay district rents space for the John Dewey Academy in the old Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, located on the corner of Baird Street and University Avenue.

The school has a three-year charter, and Blankenheim said the plan eventually is to serve 100 students.

The district already offers a kindergarten through eighth grade community program at Aldo Leopold School, Blankenheim said, and the John Dewey Academy will carry the concept of alternative learning through high school.

"We want to encourage lifelong learning," said language arts teacher and adviser Larry Laraby. "My hope is that they will develop a love of learning they will carry forever.

"These are student-directed projects, so my hope is they will find things that they're passionate about working on, and they will learn concepts while completing projects."

A student interested in cars, for example, could learn math, science and writing concepts while building an engine or vehicle.

Laraby said building benches was a good example of how the school will move forward.

"Right from the very first day they're learning about teamwork, learning about everyone else's skills and how to work together," he said. "They'll know how to do research, how to be self-directed and learn how to be advocates for themselves."